Researchers in Montreal have spent the last four years studying nearly 4,000 students and their screen time. The study was looking for links between self reported depression symptoms and uses of different kinds of screen time. The types of screen time studied were social media, television, video games, and computer use. The study used annual surveys to sample students in the Greater Montreal area in 2013-2018 and the results were analyzed in December of 2018.
The study found a substantial depressive symptom increased for every hour spent on social media, computer use, and even for television. Adolescents reported more cases of comparison to others because of their use of social media, leading to depressive symptoms. The study concluded that “Both screen time modes (social media and television) should be taken into account when developing preventative measures (for depression) and when advising parents.”
What Parents Should Know
There has been a lot of research concerning screen time and the health of our children. This study is interesting because they chose to separate the types of screen time in order to try and identify if one type or another has a greater impact on the mental health of the children studied. There are a few things that stood out to me as I read this study. First, video games didn’t seem to be a determining factor for depression. While video games can cause other issues, it seems that the direct comparison or contact with others available through social media and even some of the stories on television create the atmosphere for decreased self satisfaction and can lead to depressive symptoms. While many kids between 7th and 11th grade can falsely report feeling “depressed” just because of their stage of life, this study found a pretty significant correlation between the subjects’ symptoms and their screen time activity.
Secondly, their approach of separating types of screen time should become a new standard for this type of research. Researchers are finding that the amount of time your kids spend on a screen can have varying affects based on what it is that they are doing. This study supports that approach by proving that some categories of screen time affect depressive symptoms in different ways. Finally, the final sentence of the conclusion supports the idea that screen time should be taken into account when developing preventative measures and when advising parents. Psychologists, doctors, and counselors should be considering, not just the amount of time kids spend on their devices, but exactly what they are doing. Parents should be considering those same things.
Your son may play a ton of video games and you’re worried about anger or lack of social skills, those worries could be valid and more research is needed to identify if video gaming is, indeed, a factor. Social Media use is proving to be a determining factor in the mental health of young teens as they age. Our kids are exposed to so many ideas and so many different environments at such an early age that we, as parents have to be the gatekeeper for what enters their minds. We have to help them guard their hearts and properly interpret their emotions. If kids are seeking help from other kids, they aren’t getting the mental health advice that they need. We parents should provide a safe space for our kids’ to express how they feel. We should then be willing to make arrangements to get the professional help they need if necessary. Parents can’t ignore our children’s feelings, we have to take them seriously and make every effort to support them in exploring their own mental health.
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS